Rao takes exception to BJP's statement on development

Published: Thursday, October 4, 2007, 21:05 [IST]

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Shimla, Oct 4 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Excise and Taxation Minister Rangila Ram Rao today took exception to statements by state BJP leaders on development in the state and said the state had scaled new heights in various sectors.

Himachal has been adjudged the best in education, health, social services, human development, poverty alleviation, consumer market, besides being the best government state in the country, he said in a release here.

Terming the BJP leaders statement ''unfounded and uncalled for,'' Mr Rao said they seem to convey through their statements that development had come to a stand still during the last four and half years of Congress Government's tenure.

Besides being successful in reducing the burden of loan and reducing interests on loan, the state government has done exceedingly well in several sectors after the previous BJP Government had taken loans of Rs 15,000 crore during their tenure, he said.

Referring to the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's recent visit to the state, he said the Centre had announced to take up Bhanupalli-Bilaspur Berri raliway line as a time bound project to be completed in two years, besides extending the NREGS and launching the ''Aam Adami Bima Yojna''.

Mr Rao said the BJP leaders have at several occasions in the past termed these schemes as conceived by their governments at the Centre and state.

Besides, the Centre's decision to set up a central university and IIT were a welcome step, he added.